For those awarded the Nobel Prize, the first indication of their achievement usually comes as a startling phone call rather than an advance heads-up. The committees behind the international prizes maintain a strict protocol of secrecy leading up to the public announcements, ensuring that recipients are caught completely off guard when the news is delivered.
This lack of prior notice is designed to preserve the element of surprise and protect the integrity of the selection process against premature leaks. As a result, newly minted laureates often experience a mixture of disbelief and shock when representatives from the prize committees reach out to them directly on the morning of the announcement.